I was looking for something fun to do on a sunny afternoon and came across this nice walking path…read more There is a nice sized parking lot at the trail head. There is a water fountain and a waste can where you first get to the path. One of the main things I loved about this trail is the fact that it is wheelchair friendly. I have a difficult time finding suitable trails to take my daughter on. This trail is not paved but it is very well packed and does have gravel in some spots. I would think that if it was wet from rains it may not be as suitable to walk on. We passed several runners, walkers and bikers. We did not make it the entire length of the trail but the length we did walk was so peaceful. There were no leaves on the trees yet and no green grass but hearing the running water in the creek along part of the trail was very relaxing. I can easily see how this would be a great place to come and get away from city life for a short time! I'll definitely be coming back when I'll be able to walk the entire path. And hopefully see some wildlife and maybe some wild flowers along the way!

I have been during the day and night. It can be a little dangerous at night. There is a homeless…read morecompound that stays out in the woods, so be sure that you're not alone and that you're prepared for danger. But it is absolutely gorgeous at night. I didnt see anything sketch on my night hike and highly recommend going. Just better safe than sorry. The day time is also really nice. It can get crowded, but thats all parks here in Bloomington. It is usually filled with runners and speed walkers. I dont see many kids. It is a trail, not a full size park. And it doesnt have the art that the B-line has so it may not be well suited for some kids. I would have loved it when I was a kid...but I was a nerdy outdoorsy kid. Definite spot for locals interested in getting off the B-line and out of the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life quickly. I wouldn't really recommend for tourists. We have much better spots for you.

What a wonderful place to get out of the city and just slow down! My honey took me here 4/26/26…read moresince we've had some nice weather lately. Pleasantly surprised they have many picnic tables, the cover bridge to see and of course the Falls. Just be careful when walking to the lower fall as you are pretty close to the ledge of the falls. Plenty to enjoy here. Next time we shall have a nice picnic and enjoy the scenery. You can swim too.Parking is easy but i'm sure it gets crowded in the summer time!

Cataract Falls is a geological wonder worth visiting and only an hour west of Indianapolis. These…read moremagnificent Falls were created over millions of years as ice and water carved into the ancient limestone resulting in Mill Creek and two sets of falls. The Upper Falls drops 20 feet and can be viewed near the entrance to the park at several overlooks. We visited this week on a bright summer day. The waters were loud and rapid after recent rains. This is one of Indiana's most beautiful sites. There is a large parking lot near the Upper Falls along with picnic tables, grill, pavilion and small playground. We brought a picnic lunch so we could enjoy the Falls. There are pit bathrooms near the playground in a second parking lot. The Lower Falls are a short drive through the park. A nearby lot provides plenty of parking. The short path to view the falls is not paved, but an easy walk. These falls drop 18 feet with incredible views of the layered limestone exposed west of the falls. I was envious of a lone kayaker below the falls. There are marked trails through dense woods descending near the creek. You'll want to wear good hiking shoes and bug spray if you are up for the adventure. The property was donated by Agnes Stuckey in memory of her mother, Agnes Steiner. The Park is maintained by the Indiana DNR. There was no admission during our midweek visit.

Very neat trail. Has numerous observation areas. Trail is flat and easy. Went in the winter and it…read morewas all iced over, can't wait to see it in the spring.

If you want to really appreciate the natural beauty and diversity of Indiana, take a hike through…read moreBeanblossom Bottom Nature Preserve. It will take your breath away, especially if you visit in the spring, summer and fall, when things are blooming. This is a wetland preserve, so there are swamps all around. You'll see wildlife that like to call swampy, marshy land their home, like frogs and dragonflies, and you might even see a snake, although we didn't on our visit. You'll also see lots of beautiful greenery, trees and flowers. This is one of the most unique nature preserves I've visited in Indiana, because the hiking trail starts off on dirt, but then it turns into a raised, plastic boardwalk. Because the boardwalk is plastic, it can be slippery after a rain, so just be aware. On the boardwalk, you're literally walking right over and through the swamp, so you can get an up-close view of everything. The hiking trail is about 2.5 miles, but it felt shorter. This nature preserve seems to be popular with birders, because we saw several during our hike. When I did some research, I found out that Beanblossom Bottom Nature Preserve has been designated a state Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. So that explains why we saw so many birders! Speaking of birds, we saw a Great Egret swoop down in front of our path and into the swampy water. They're so big! It was like seeing a dinosaur. This nature preserve was closed for a while because a tornado went through it and damaged a lot of the trail. But a renovation was completed in spring 2019, and the trail loop has been completely restored. Parking is at a premium at Beanblossom Bottom Nature Preserve. There are exactly eight parking spaces in the parking lot, but you can also park along the side of the road if the parking lot is full. There are no restrooms or other services, so plan accordingly.

This preserve is part of the Sycamore Land Trust. It's a little hard to find and there is not a lot…read moreof parking. The paths in the woods aren't on a boardwalk or as well marked at Bean Blossom Bottoms. Highlights include a sinkhole and an old cemetery. They say that there is only 1.4 miles of trails, but feels like longer because of the forks in the road. It's easy to get lost there...or maybe that's just me haha. Compared to Leonard Springs, I'd say its nothing too spectacular. I went during the winter, so maybe it is more impressive during the spring or the summer months.

We enjoyed fresh air and a long relaxing hike along the creek. There was a nice little Sandy Beach…read morewhere the kids played and built castles. Can't wait to come back in the Spring.

This is more surprising than that scene in Garden State. Yeah, that one! Gasp! Takes your breath…read moreaway. Get a local to walk you there from parking at the commune lake. That's the top view. Needmore Commune was started by Kathy Canada, the grand daughter of Eli Lilly. Yeah, that Eli Lilly. It's not a tourist attraction. Locals don't bite. Ask and you'll find it. Bring wampum and trade beads. Flashbacks to 1969 are common in these-here-parts. Aaron Levy Property infamously reverted to family and was later purchased by Sycamore Land Trust. Google 'Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve' on the Sycamore Land Trust Site, for two maps so hard to read they scare people away. Prepare to be alone. Not crowded, except when morels poke out.

Great park for hiking - lots of trails to choose from with varying difficulty. We picked Trail 3 on…read moreour last one, which goes right up the creek -- the trail is literally the creek, not next to it. A little confusing as it just kind of dumps out into the creek and you just keep walking until you find the trailhead again, but a really fun and scenic hike for the whole family, and you don't have to get wet if you don't want to. (At least with the water levels where they were on our visit -- may not be true after rainy days.) We had done Trail 5 previously, which is a fun one but no water. The kids were a little too scared of Wolf Cave, but it was a pretty hike nonetheless. Much preferred Trail 3 though.

The falls are amazing and in the summer they refresh you. The park has trails to fit every age…read moregroups. We Owen county residents enjoy our park and events they offer for our children as well as adults.

Our favorite state park in Indiana. My friends and I camp here for a four day weekend at least…read moreonce a year, and sometimes visit for just a day hiking trip and picnic. The campgrounds are excellent, especially Taylor Ridge. But be aware that you need to make reservations ahead of time, especially if you are planning a fall camping trip. Campsites sell out early. Shower rooms are decent, not wonderful. But satisfactory for a campground. Quiet hours are strictly observed, and the park rangers will pay a visit to your campsite if you aren't quiet after 10:00 pm Once we received a visit from a friendly park ranger when we were playing cards around 11 pm. We hadn't realized that we were being noisy at all but the ranger advised us that sound carries throughout the campground. Hiking trails range from easy to moderate. Trail maps are available are the trails are well marked. You will likely see deer and raccoons when hiking the trails. Some members of our group enjoy mountain biking too.

Brown county is a must go spot for Fall and beware everyone goes there for Fall! Last weekend was…read morevery crowded taking about 30 minutes just to cross the entrance. Past the crowd, the views were everything! It was eye candy and so worth the traffic, wait time and people. The park itself is very huge and has a couple entrance points and is well maintained. We hiked the Straul Lake hike and it's an easy 1 mile hike which had exceptional views- I just couldn't stop looking! The lookout points are another easy way to stop and click pictures, enjoy the views and just relax. Beware that internet depending on your provider can be hard to find. All in all brown county is a name for a reason. So worth the hype!

We had the best weekend getaway here and are so happy to have found this spot through a friend of a…read morefriend. This forest has many camping sites, but they don't let yo reserve any before arriving. Our friend recommended arriving before 2pm to hopefully get a spot. We arrived then on one of the busiest most beautiful fall weekends and scored the LAST spot. Woohoo! We were allowed two tents on our camping spot, which came with a bonfire set up and cooking rack. There was a wooden bathroom only a few steps away and a lake within walking distance as well. The bathrooms didn't have sinks, but there was a water spigot down the road if needed. Most people camping here came for four or five days at a time and had awesome RV or airstreams set up on their camping sites. Therefore, most people went to bed quite early and we weren't bothered by anyone being too loud. Everyone had great fires going and we liked not being the only ones out here. The building where you pay for your campsite also had $5 log bundles you could buy, so we got a couple of those. There were tons of sticks and leaves around that we used to build up our fire as well. This spot is only a fifteen minute drive from Nashville, IN, so is such a great spot. Go check it out!

This review is specifically for the Jackson Creek trail…read more Overall rating: DNR - Do Not Recommend! Sure, there are some scenic views but the trail is pretty poorly marked. It is an "interpretive" trail but the interpretative markers don't have any description. Let's hope you took a picture of the map at the trail head! This could be a lot nicer with some TLC.

This was a great place for a quiet hike with our dog, who is still learning trail manners around…read moreothers pups. It's a relatively short hike that gets your heart pumping with inclines, and it's fascinating to see how the trees and plants are so different from other nearby hiking spots. I'd you're interested in birding, this is a great spot. Parking is limited and there are no bathroom facilities, so plan ahead. We really enjoyed this hiking spot and plan to return.

Short really cute trail. Very quaint and quiet to relax. My family loves to walk the dogs here and…read morelet then sniff their stress away.

We were in Bloomington for a wedding and had a few hours to kill. this park had everything…read moreincluding a waterfall, caves and scenic shaded trails. Parking lot was small, we came early and no one else was here, 2 cars when we left.

Beautiful, untapped, natural gem…read more Came here for lunch today and got in a couple miles my advice to senior or maybe not so experience climbers would be to take the stair steps down that are just down the trail about 100 yards